CoolSprings Galleria Replaces JCPenney With Sports Center
The 100,000-square-foot facility shift forces local retailers to rethink foot traffic strategies at the Franklin site.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Retail
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JCPenney has closed its long-standing storefront at the CoolSprings Galleria in Franklin. The space will be repurposed as a DICK'S House of Sport, marking a significant shift in the mall's tenant mix.
Why it matters
Property owner CBL Properties is pivoting the CoolSprings Galleria toward experiential retail to boost shopper traffic, a strategy that reshapes local commercial real estate dynamics.
The new DICK'S House of Sport will occupy more than 100,000 square feet at the CoolSprings Galleria, while a concurrent residential development project adds 361 new units to the mall grounds.
The players
CBL Properties
A real estate investment trust that owns and manages large-scale shopping malls across the United States.
DICK'S House of Sport
An experiential retail concept focusing on large footprints with integrated sports training facilities and simulators.
JCPenney
A legacy department store chain currently transitioning its footprint in high-traffic shopping centers.
Greystar
A global real estate investment and management firm focused on residential and commercial developments.
The details
The facility transition involves gutting the existing JCPenney site to install specialized amenities, including a climbing wall, golf simulators, and a multi-sport cage. This transition follows an earlier expansion at the mall that saw L.L.Bean open in July 2026, signaling a broader effort by the mall operator to curate a tenant roster focused on activity-based shopping rather than traditional anchor retail.
Timeline
July 2026: L.L.Bean opened its doors at the CoolSprings Galleria.
October 27, 2026: The closure of the JCPenney store was formally reported.
Early 2028: DICK'S House of Sport is scheduled to open at the site.
Market Landscape
The project at CoolSprings Galleria represents a direct application of the industry-wide pivot away from traditional department store anchors toward mixed-use experiences. It follows a multi-year trend of retailers replacing stagnant legacy storefronts with activity-driven concepts.
Operators in the Franklin area should prepare for increased traffic volume once the 361-unit residential project and the massive new sports facility are both operational. Retailers nearby should audit their own proximity to anchor-driven foot traffic as malls continue to de-emphasize traditional department stores.
The takeaway
The replacement of traditional anchors with experience-heavy tenants serves as a signal to monitor regional mall foot traffic trends. Business owners should track the progress of the early 2028 opening to gauge how these specific amenities influence total dwell time in the Franklin market.
Further reading
For more on evolving shopping center strategies, visit Retail.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Williamson Source.
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